Challenging assimilation and marginalisation: the case of Kurdish language

Abstract

The modern history of the Kurdish language or languages (we use these terms interchangeably) is one of discrimination and precarity, but also resilience and resistance. Even though there are an estimated 30-40 million Kurds they are stateless, mainly living within Iran, Iraq, Syria and Türkiye where their language/s are suppressed. In this article we draw attention to Kurdish revitalization efforts and to what we call – inspired by Judith Butler, the feminist philosopher – the Kurdish language right of appearance and visibility